Free yacht
- Thread starter dk
- Start date
RupertW
Well-Known Member
Wow - boat looks in good nick so wonder what the full story is. A bust engine shouldn’t stop them
Concerto
Well-Known Member
After listening to a talk about another rescue, they should have sunk the yacht as it will now become a hazard to shipping. Any ship that sees it will check by radio and visually if there is anyone onboard, maybe calling out some rescue services. It will be delaying commercial ships, maybe multiple times. The total cost could far exceed the value of the yacht.
dk
Well-Known Member
Not sure where she is but you can bet someone will track her down for salvage.
Bajansailor
Well-Known Member
It would have been nice if they could have reported the position where the yacht was abandoned.
I presume that it was north of the Doldrums, as they had bad weather, in which case she should continue to drift westwards if she can stay afloat.
She might turn up out here in the Caribbean at some stage.
A J 40 'First Light' washed up on the beach here 14 years ago - she had been abandoned a few hundred miles east of Barbados. If they had made it known that a yacht was drifting out there, I know various fishing boats here that would have been keen to go out and look for her.
I posted this on YBW about her back then :
'First Light' ashore at Barbados
I presume that it was north of the Doldrums, as they had bad weather, in which case she should continue to drift westwards if she can stay afloat.
She might turn up out here in the Caribbean at some stage.
A J 40 'First Light' washed up on the beach here 14 years ago - she had been abandoned a few hundred miles east of Barbados. If they had made it known that a yacht was drifting out there, I know various fishing boats here that would have been keen to go out and look for her.
I posted this on YBW about her back then :
'First Light' ashore at Barbados
newtothis
Well-Known Member
Sunda, the rescue ship, was gilling about around 17.16-17.30 N and 36.44-37.13 west on 10 Jan. Work out the 12-day drift from there and you've got yourself a salvage.
Bajansailor
Well-Known Member
So she was abandoned approx 1,600 miles east of the Windward Islands (eg Antigua) in the Caribbean, and about 500 miles WNW of the Cabo Verdes.
As she drifts westwards, the current coming up from South America will have an effect - I would guess that she will swing gradually north, and might eventually reach the Bahamas. Or even get into the Gulf Stream and return to Europe...... assuming of course that she stays afloat.
As she drifts westwards, the current coming up from South America will have an effect - I would guess that she will swing gradually north, and might eventually reach the Bahamas. Or even get into the Gulf Stream and return to Europe...... assuming of course that she stays afloat.
Aardee
Well-Known Member
If the article is to be believed the otherwise perfectly seaworthy yacht was abandoned because of engine failure and a "tired" crew. It seems a terrible waste in so many ways.
newtothis
Well-Known Member
I guess if they have lost their solar as well, then they've got no power for the chart-plotter or autohelm so don't know where they are and are having to hand steer. Even so, steering west and a running a watch pattern should still have got them to a land fall.
Of course, there's probably some other reason we're unaware of. No doubt the full story will out eventually.
Baggywrinkle
Well-Known Member
If they were relying on the engine to run a watermaker then I could believe that engine failure could scupper their passage plans.
newtothis
Well-Known Member
Maybe they then started drinking salt water, went mad and forgot what the sails were for.
These threads are fun, but speculating on what happened from a single news story that was about the rescue ship rather than the yacht is slightly daft.
Baggywrinkle
Well-Known Member
I thought speculation was exactly what threads like this are for ....
Frogmogman
Well-Known Member
Sadly your the photos from your post from 13 years ago are suffering from the curse of photobucket.
Could be a good thing. I might find the sight of a wrecked J-boat distressing.
As to the subject of the original post, I'd be most interested to know more detail. One would hope that there's more to the story; engine broken down and crew feeling a bit tired seem pretty thin reasons for abandoning ship.
ryanroberts
Well-Known Member
Is having your inflatable on deck a good idea 1600 miles off?
RupertW
Well-Known Member
For our rib there is no other sensible place and was there all the way down to the Canaries with 3 quick release straps as it could be useful along with the liferaft. We’ve had it in 45 knot winds and horrible waves (not at the same time) and it hasn’t shifted at sea noticeably in 10 years.
Refueler
Well-Known Member
I had to attend a vessel in Rotterdam and on board was a French couple that their boat had started sinking. The ship I was superintending stopped and saved the couple.
They lost everything ... clothes, documents, money, passports .. all. They had to endure watching their pride and joy sink ...
The crew on the ship rallied round with clothes and anything possible. They were given the owners suite on board.
I was on that vessel for 5 days as we blended cargo on to her. During that time the couple were forced to stay on board because the French Consul refused to act on their behalf. They had no passport or proof of identity so the Dutch were unable to help.
Finally after pressure from the Ship Owner and Dutch Authorities - the Consul relented and took them ashore and assisted them to France.
I had a great time sitting and chatting with them, they had basically sold up all - took to the seas to explore with possibly circumnavigation. They had stories to tell about islands and places they visited.
I hope that all worked out for them - I lost touch with them after they left the vessel. Somewhere I have a photo of myself with them on deck helping them depart ..
They lost everything ... clothes, documents, money, passports .. all. They had to endure watching their pride and joy sink ...
The crew on the ship rallied round with clothes and anything possible. They were given the owners suite on board.
I was on that vessel for 5 days as we blended cargo on to her. During that time the couple were forced to stay on board because the French Consul refused to act on their behalf. They had no passport or proof of identity so the Dutch were unable to help.
Finally after pressure from the Ship Owner and Dutch Authorities - the Consul relented and took them ashore and assisted them to France.
I had a great time sitting and chatting with them, they had basically sold up all - took to the seas to explore with possibly circumnavigation. They had stories to tell about islands and places they visited.
I hope that all worked out for them - I lost touch with them after they left the vessel. Somewhere I have a photo of myself with them on deck helping them depart ..
john_morris_uk
Well-Known Member
I agree. Surely there must be moire to this story than the crew feeling tired. They couldn't have lost all electrics as it seems they were still able to talk to the ship on VHF. (Although I also suppose they could have had a battery handheld?)
Refueler
Well-Known Member
On my SR 25 ... when I go across Baltic - I half deflate my redstart and fold it onto foredeck .... it will at least then keep 2 people afloat while we pump up rest ..
JumbleDuck
Well-Known Member
I believe that's SOP with the USCGS. They rescue people but never salvage vessels, so if you don't or can't engage a commercial towing service they'll take you off and then sink your boat with gunfire.
D
Deleted member 478
Guest
No, they do it by cutting the hose below your galley sink or heads, but as close as possible to the through hull fitting. Gunfire can cause explosions eg if it hits your outboard fuel jerry can. Can't remember where I read this, sorry.
EDIT: It takes time to sink, but sink it will.
